Update: Rail misery continues with three-hour delays on Norwich to London Liverpool Street line

Greater Anglia has warned that trains could be delayed by three hours, more than five hours after damage to overhead wires caused a train to break down at Chelmsford.

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Greater Anglia warned the delays could continue until 2am.

In a statement posted on its website at 10.38pm, Greater Anglia said: “Owing to overhead wire damage at Chelmsford that caused a train to break down earlier the Colchester bound line is blocked between Ingatestone and Hatfield Peverel.

“We are currently running a reduced train service with delays of up to 3 hours and expect this to continue until close of service. ”

Passengers tweeted the train operator complaining about being stuck on trains throughout the night.

In a tweet posted at 10.30pm, passenger Phil Smith said: “3 hours to get fr Nch to Colchester & now we’re told could be delayed up to 3h into London.”

Earlier messages included @CharlotteDoveH, who wrote: “been sitting at Shenfield for over an hour! Please tell me I’ll be moving soon! On 1642 from Liverpool St”.

In a series tweets to the Eastern Daily Press, passenger Andy Newman said: “On a broken down train in Essex (1600 Ldn-Nch), line completely blocked, ‘waiting for a tow’. No power, no aircon, total chaos.

“Unbelievable. We are now told we are going to be thrown off this train where it is, presumably so we can walk to Norwich.

“It seems we are going to be abandoned trackside. Time to strip @greateranglia of its franchise.”

He later said the company instead used an emergency engine to move the train.

I was on the 16.30 out of Liverpool St yesterday which arrived into Norwich at 20:00. This morning I ventured out on the 07:40 from Norwich to Liverpool Street. The train TERMINATED at Stratford due to signalling problems. Added substantial time onto my journey. More DelayRepay forms to fill....

Lots of people moaning here about the trains. But it was the overhead line at fault. Unfortunately electric trains fail to work with no overhead power. There isn't a ready supply of Old diesel unit kept in standby for just this occasion either. The infrastructure is maintained by a government funded agency.

I gave up using the London train from Norwich when I missed an appointment at Broadgate Circus (adjoins L'pool St.) by an hour.
Railways are one of the very few sectors that should be taken back into public ownwership. They are just too big and too important to allow profit to degrade services to that extent.

Once again chaos on the London to Norwich line. It amazes me that all we hear about is speeding up the line when really all people want is a reliable service. When will they learn that its new rolling stock that is required. Why does the Great Eastern line always have to use hand me downs? The current stock is I believe ex-Virgin West Coast Main Line which had years of use before arriving here?